Telephone desk set



Sept. 16 1924. 1,508,424

6. K. THOMPSON TELEPHONE DESK SET Filid 006.28, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IMEVTUR Sept. 16,1924; v I I v 1,508,424

a. K. THOMPSON unions nssx SET 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

\TTORNEY Patented Sept. 1924..

GEORGE K. THOMPSON, OF MAILEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIQNO'R TO AMERICANTELE- PHONE AND TELEGRAZPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE DESK SET.

Application filed December 28, 1922. Serial 1T0. 609,506.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. THOMPSON, residing at Maplewood, in thecounty of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certainImprovements in Telephone Desk Sets, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to telephone desk sets of the character adaptedto; hold a telephone set, and, by the weight of the set, to controlcontacts in the circuits thereof for cutting th set into and out ofoperative connection. One of the objects of the invention'is to providea set of this nature which may be used without chance of false operationof tllli'e switching mechanism associated therewit Another object is toprovide a set which shall be simple in its operation, economic in itsconstruction and durable and efiicient as an article of commercial use.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when considered in connection with the appendeddrawing, in which one embodiment of the improved device is illustrated.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk set; Fig. 2is a top plan view of the device; Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof withthe base plate removed; and Fig. 1 is a vertical section on line 44 ofeferring to the drawing, in which like characters of reference designatelike parts throughout, 5 represents a pedestal or a hollow base on whicha tubular standard 6 is eccentrically mounted. The standard 6' issecured to the bell portion of the base by means of a clamping ring 7provided with a threaded surface which extends upwardly through a ring'8and engages a thread cut on the inner surface of the standard. A pin 9formed on the bell portion of the base extends through a hole providedin the standard and prevents it from being turned on the bell portion.The clampingring 7 has a wall '11 which divides it into an upper and alower chamber portion, and centrally of said wall an aperture isprovided which carries a guide 12. l The standard 6 has an integralcradle member 13 formed on its upper portion 5 which extends outwardlyon eitherside thereof. The cradle 13' is provided with .the hand setpositioned in the cradle. When four upwardly extending or flaring guardarms 14, the extremities of which are preferably turned outwardly, asmore clearly shown in Fig. 1. A depressed surface 15 is provided on thetop? of the cradle 13 in the center of which is a longitudinal slot 16,and centrally of said slot is a squareopening which connects with, thetubular chamber in the standard 6 in vertical alinee ment with thecentral'aperture of the guide 12 carried by clamping ring 7.

A T-shaped plunger comprising a flat horizontal bar 17 and a spindle 18is adapted to move vertically in the standard 6. The bar 17 is providedwith a depending flange 19 at the center of which the bifurcated head 20of the spindle 18 is pinned or otherwise suitably secured. A spiralspring 21 encircles the spindle 18 and extends thereon from thewall'l-l' of the clamping ring 7 on which it is seated and engages thelower surface of the bifurcated head 20.

When a hand set, which has not been illustrated in the present instancefor the sake of clearness, but which may be of any wellknown type, isplaced on the T-shaped plunger, the weight thereof causes the depressionof the spring 21. The flange 19 at such time registers in thelongitudinal slot 16 and the bifurcated head 20 in the square opening inthe center of said slot, while the flat bar 17 is seated in thedepressed portion 15 formed in the cradle member. The ard arms 1 1 actto keep the hand set is removed from the cradle, the spring 21 causesthe elevation of the T-shaped plunger, which provides for the electricalconnection of the set, as will presently appear.

The lower end of the spindle 18 extends through the insulated aperture12 of the wall 11 and is provided with a shoulder portion and a threadedportion. A coneshaped button 22, composed of hard rubber or the like, ispositioned against the shoul-. der portion of the spindle 18, and nuts23 are screwed on the threaded portion for the purpose of keeping thebutton 22 in place. The button when thus positioned functions 1 to limitthe upward movement of the plunger underthe tension of spring 21 beyondthe point of contact of the upper surface of said button with the lowersurface of the wall 11. A. washer may be interposed between saidshoulder portion and button for the purpose The ring 8', which isretained in position by the clamping member 7, is provided with integrallugs 24, and 26, 27 which extend downwardly therefrom. The lugs 24, 25have angular mounting brackets 28 and 29 respectively associatedtherewith by means of screws 30 which pass through the threaded openingsprovided in the lugs and at one end of the brackets. The other ends ofthe brackets 28 and 29 are secured by means of screws 31 which passthrough threaded openings in the flanges of the arms, one of which isindicated by the numeral 32. These arms are integral with, and extenddownwardly from the bell portion of the base. The brackets 28 and 29carry a screw of conducting plates 34 and 35, respectively, which areinsulated from each other and secured to' said brackets by screws 36. Inthe present instance there is shown a certain number of these platesassociated with each bracket for the purpose of illustration, it

'being understood that this number may be changed as desired. Each'ofthe series of "conducting plates 34 is provided with integral'arms, asindicated at 37, 38 and 39'. 30

These arms are each provided with threaded openings through which screwsmay pass to clamp the terminal of an electrical conductor. Each of theseries of conducting plates likewise has integral arms 40 and 41 towhich conductor terminals may be clamped. Switching mechanism is mountedin the base and controlled by the reciprocation of the plunger as willbe presently described. Contact springs 42 and 43 are'conductivelyassociatedwith separate plates of the series 34, the spring 42. havingat its endan upwardly extending arm 44 provided with flanges in which aroller 45 is journaled. A corresponding pair of contact arms 46 and 47are associated with the series of plates 35,-the spring 46 carrying aroller 48 mounted in the same manner as indicated in connection with thespring 42. The rollers 45 and 48 bear against the surface of thecone-shaped button 22, and upon the removal of the telephone hand setfrom the cradle which permits the upward movement of the T-shapedplunger and button 22 under the" tension of the spring 21, said rollers"rotate on the surface of the cone-shaped 5- member until it rises abovethem; The

springs 42 and 46 at this time move into Q contact with springs .43 and47 respectively,

" and close circuits over their associated terminals and conductors in awell-known manner. When the hand set is replaced upon the cradleandT-shaped plunger, the button 22 is forced downwardly, causing therotation of the rollers and the consequent; spread of the springs '42and4g61 out of contact with ascaeea their respective springs 43 and 47and the restoration of the electrical circuits to normal.

The depending integral lugs 26 and 27 of the ring 8 have openings intheir ends to permit the tying of tape thereto, said tape being alsosecured to electrical conductors the terminals of which are clamped tothe arms 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. The conductors when thus tied prevent theirterminal connections from becoming loosened when any undue strain isexerted on the cord of which they are a part, said cord being introducedin the base through a bushing 48 on the bell portions;

A bottom plate 50, which is covered with felt or like material, isfastened by means of screws which extend upwardly through indentationsin the plate 50 and engage threaded openings provided in the mountingbrackets 28 and 29, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4. A dial or otherdisc-plate 51 maybe attached to'the sloping surface of the bell portionof the base in any well established manner.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation andmany advantages of the herein described and delineated invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and itwill be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportionand minor details of construction may be resorted to without departingfrom the s irit or sacrificing any of the advantages 6 the device.

What is claimed is: v

1. A portable desk set comprising a base and standard therefor, a cradlemember integral with said standard and adapted to support a handtelephone, a T-shaped plunger including a head portion and a spmdleadapted to reciprocate in said standard, switching mechanism mounted insaid base, and means associated with the said-plunger and actuated uponthe reciprocation thereof for operating said switching mechanism uponthe association and dissociation of the hand telephone with the cradlemember.

2. A portable desk set comprising a base, a standard mounted thereon, acradle member integral with the standard for supporting a telephone handset, switching mechanism mounted in said base, a plum ercomprising ahorizontal bar and a spin le member, said bar. cooperating with thecradle member in su porting the hand set and said plunger mem erreciprocating in the standard to operate said switching mechanism.

3. A portable desk set comprising a base, a tubular standard mountedthereon, a cradle member integral. with said standard having adepressedportion and a longitudinal slot formed therein, a plunger comprising aspindle and, a horizontal bar having a depending flange, said spindlebeing lll adaptedto reciprocate in the standard and saidhorizontal barand depending flange be comprising-a base,- a tubular standardeccentrically mounted on said base, a cradle member-integral with saidstandard for seating the hand telephone, switching mechanism mounted insaid base, and a plunger comprising a horizontal bar and a spindle; saidbar being positioned longitudinally of the cradle member and cooperatingtherewith inthe seating of the hand telephone and said spindle beingadapted to reciprocate in the standard for operating said switchingmechanism upon the association and dissociation of the handtelephonewith v said cradle and horizontal .bar.

zontal bar extending longitudinally of said cradle member andcooperating therewith in holding a hand telephone, a spindle positionedcentrally of said bar and adapted to reciprocate in said standard uponthe association and dissociation of the hand telephone with the cradleand horizontal bar, and switching mechanism in said base operated uponthe reciprocation of said plunger.

6. In a portable desk set, a base having a standard cccentricallymounted thereon, a

cradle member integral with and extending laterally of the standard,said cradle mem her having upwardly flaring arms, a T

shaped plunger comprising a flat horizontal 'bar extendinglongitudinally of said cradle,

and a spindle adapted to reciprocate in said standard, said horizontalbar cooperatingwith said cradle in holding a hand tele phone, switchingmechanism mounted in said base, and a cone-shaped member mount ed onsaid spindle for operating said switching mechanism upon the associationand dissociation of the hand telephone;

In testimony whereof, I haiie signed my name to this specification this23rd day of December, 1922.

GEORGE K. THOMPSON,

